NEW DELHI: Abhorring caste-based discrimination in judiciary, the Supreme Court on Monday derided systematic targeting of a senior judicial officer just because he was a cobbler's son and upheld an order of a division bench of Punjab and Haryana HC that ordered his reinstatement after quashing the HC's administrative decision to dismiss him.
Taking serious note of the alleged caste-based discrimination, Justice Surya Kant, who hails from P&H high court, said he was aware of the happenings in the judiciary in Punjab and that this judicial officer, whose father was a cobbler and mother a labourer, was targeted just because he belonged to a lower caste. "How long can this go on," he asked.
The bench of Justices Kant and N Kotiswar Singh perused the ACRs of Prem Kumar, who was a direct recruit to the post of additional district and sessions judge in Punjab in 2014, and said his track record and integrity was termed good by the supervising judge. However, it suddenly dipped to poor with 'doubtful integrity' in the next year only to dramatically improve to good both in performance and integrity criteria.
The rollercoaster evaluation of performance and integrity became routine for Prem Kumar and in April 2022, the HC in administrative side dispensed with his services.
To safeguard his dignity, Kumar challenged his dismissal before the high court through a writ petition.
In January this year, a division bench of the HC allowed the writ petition, quashed the full court's march 7, 2022, recommendation as well as the order of April 20, 2022 dismissing him from service. The HC appealed against the division bench's order before the SC.
Dismissing the appeal, Justice Kant-led bench said, "Just because he belongs to a lower caste, he is being targeted. It is a big problem in the high court. The HC should be fair in treating its judicial officers."
The bench ordered Prem Kumar's immediate reinstatement in service with deemed seniority, full arrears of wages and dropping of vigilance inquiry.
Taking serious note of the alleged caste-based discrimination, Justice Surya Kant, who hails from P&H high court, said he was aware of the happenings in the judiciary in Punjab and that this judicial officer, whose father was a cobbler and mother a labourer, was targeted just because he belonged to a lower caste. "How long can this go on," he asked.
The bench of Justices Kant and N Kotiswar Singh perused the ACRs of Prem Kumar, who was a direct recruit to the post of additional district and sessions judge in Punjab in 2014, and said his track record and integrity was termed good by the supervising judge. However, it suddenly dipped to poor with 'doubtful integrity' in the next year only to dramatically improve to good both in performance and integrity criteria.
The rollercoaster evaluation of performance and integrity became routine for Prem Kumar and in April 2022, the HC in administrative side dispensed with his services.
To safeguard his dignity, Kumar challenged his dismissal before the high court through a writ petition.
In January this year, a division bench of the HC allowed the writ petition, quashed the full court's march 7, 2022, recommendation as well as the order of April 20, 2022 dismissing him from service. The HC appealed against the division bench's order before the SC.
Dismissing the appeal, Justice Kant-led bench said, "Just because he belongs to a lower caste, he is being targeted. It is a big problem in the high court. The HC should be fair in treating its judicial officers."
The bench ordered Prem Kumar's immediate reinstatement in service with deemed seniority, full arrears of wages and dropping of vigilance inquiry.
You may also like
Permanent drinking water supply project for Bengaluru South district to be completed by December: Karantaka Deputy CM Shivakumar
Technical Inspection, comprehensive audit ordered at GMCH in Kozhikode
Met Gala 2025: Harvard grad Mona Patel brings AI and drama to red carpet. You must check her robotic dog, Vector
Congress to hold 'Save Constitution' rally in Ranchi today
"Unity among Indians has scared other countries that are against India...": Haj Association of India chairman
